My Android APP has a minimum SDK 16. Recently, I want to update the Admob library to the latest version, it requires minimum SDK 19. If I publish the APP bundles with minSdk 19 to Google Play, it will replace the APP bundles with minSdk 16 completely. Then all users under API level 19 will upgrade to a very early version, which causes a lot of crashes. Several years ago, we could publish multiple APKs, and target different API levels by version code. How can I do the same thing with APP bundles?
defaultConfig {
minSdkVersion 16
}
dependencies {
implementation 'com.google.android.gms:play-services-ads:20.6.0'
}
Related
I just submitted my application with target SDK version 29 but I am facing some crashes can I downgrade it to 28 and submit it again?
Yes, you can upload a new version that downgrades your targetSdkVersion - the Google Play target API level requirement only requires targeting API 28 or higher.
Note that it is expected that target API level requirement will increase each year, so you'll have to fix your app to work when targeting API 29 before ~late 2020.
I just submitted my application with target SDK version 29 but I am facing some crashes can I downgrade it to 28 and submit it again?
Yes, you can upload a new version that downgrades your targetSdkVersion - the Google Play target API level requirement only requires targeting API 28 or higher.
Note that it is expected that target API level requirement will increase each year, so you'll have to fix your app to work when targeting API 29 before ~late 2020.
On November 1st, 2018, Google play started requiring apps to target API Level 26 at a minimum. API level 26 is not terribly old, leaving a large number of potential users who are still using phones that do not support API level 26. I want to find a way to still support those older phones via Google play by uploading an apk file that targets a lower API level (say, 21). However, google play doesn't seem to let me do that. Is this something I should be able to do? If so, how?
According to this article, I should be able to offer multiple apk files: https://developer.android.com/google/play/publishing/multiple-apks#CreatingApks
I followed the method described in this youtube video to upload my apk's: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMl_oLlf_g0
However, it seems like no matter what I do, the play console tells me that the API-Level-21 APK must target at least API level 26. I'm stumped...
You can still support older phones while compiling against the latest SDK version.
Google is requiring you to compile against at minimum SDK 26 which would be the targetSdkVersion in your gradle file.
To declare what version you want to minimum support you use the minSdkVersion in your gradle file too
Your gradle file would look something like this
defaultConfig {
applicationId "my.package.name"
minSdkVersion 21
targetSdkVersion 27
versionCode 1
versionName "1.0"
testInstrumentationRunner "android.support.test.runner.AndroidJUnitRunner"
}
I tried to submit my updated application to playstore. When I tried upload the apk on production, there was notice saying
Play Store will require that new apps and app
updates target a recent Android API level. This will be required for
new apps in August 2018, and for updates to existing apps in November
2018. This is to ensure apps are built on the latest APIs optimized for security and performance.
Currently, my application was set minSDKVersion 19 and targetSDKVersion as 23.
Does that mean I have to update my application to targetSDKVersion 26?
I have tried to change this and upload it. I seems to have error saying about the downgrade (Sorry I should have make a note of the message).
Does that mean I have to update my application to targetSDKVersion 26?
Yes. But for now its just a warning, it will enforced from beginning of August for new apps. Do take note that deadline for app update is November.
have tried to change this and upload it. I seems to have error saying
about the downgrade
Since you don't have complete error message, one probable cause of this issue is, you are trying to upload an app which has VersionCode less than the app available on play store. Re-check your version code and increase it if needed.
August 2018: New apps required to target API level 26 (Android 8.0) or
higher.
November 2018: Updates to existing apps required to target API level 26 or higher.
2019 onwards: Each year the targetSdkVersion
requirement will advance. Within one year following each Android
dessert release, new apps and app updates will need to target the
corresponding API level or higher.
source: https://android-developers.googleblog.com/2017/12/improving-app-security-and-performance.html
A library that I'm using requires minSdkVersion to be 15.
The app is already published in the store with minSdkVersion 14.
If I bump minSdkVersion from 14 to 15 for the new app version, will users with 14 be able to upgrade to it? Or is it only going to hide it from the Google App Store with users running Android API 14?
minSdkVersion refer to the minimum version that your application is supported. By upgrading from 14 to 15, any users who are using phone with API level 14(ICS) will not be able to access any apps above 14.